For living authentically, speaking with passion, and helping others (strangers, community, loved ones).

What is your motto?

We are all on this beautiful journey together.

Tell us about your work:

I own Nashelle, a lifestyle/Jewelry company handmade in Bend, OR. Established in 1999.

What project are you working on now?

I am currently working on my Soul Beautiful Project.

What is your “why” behind it?

My why is because I felt I had failed. I was lost, I was ashamed, I was scared, I was alone. Alone in my mind. My marriage failed, and while I faced the major stress of it all, I underwent surgery and, unfortunately, learned the hard way that I have a strongly addictive personality. Pills and alcohol. My addiction spiraled out of control quickly, and I immediately became lost. My path with addiction was short, and I sought extreme help, but the lessons, fear, and respect for chemical dependence will last a lifetime.

My new project is me expressing my journey through my art. My goal is to help support men and women that face any adversity (not just addiction) to stand up and not become lost in shame and fear as I did. I almost lost my life. I survived. I came back to me. But I came back a new person. My walk with addiction was brief but it brought me to my knees and rocked my world. It rocked everyone’s world around me who stood by my side. Who fought for me. I am a warrior. Adversity comes in many stories. Everyone has a path they have walked. Mine is my own, but the pain of facing something you never thought you would face, is a universal suffocation.

I want to empower others to come alive, live authentically, know there is hope, know they are not alone, know there is beauty and strength in being alive. I want you to know that you are strong and to not be ashamed of anything that you are facing. Fight, stand tall, have faith, you will survive and yes, it will make you a stronger person. Be patient with yourself.

What skills | qualities do you need to cultivate for it?

Faith. The ability to rise again no matter how many times you want to shut down.

How can we support you and your work?

Continue to be a voice.

Share your inspiration with us:

When and where are you most inspired?

When I am by the Ocean. When I am lost in music. When I dance.

If you could inspire one change in yourself, what would it be?

I wish I could inspire myself to read more books.

If you could inspire one change in the world, what would it be?

For men and women to truly make a shift in this lifetime; in whatever form that looks like. We are all given our own individual gifts. If we each make a conscious effort to make this world a better place, we will make a profound footprint.

Where do you look for inspiration in your daily life?

My family, my community, my faith and my music.

Which historical figures have inspired you?

Frida Kahlo, Albert Einstein, Pink. That may be the most random mix.

Who are your living muses?

My children. My community through individual encounters.

Want to share a quote or a poem or a song lyric that inspires you?

“Don’t tell me what someone has said about me, tell me why they are so comfortable telling you.”

Now, let’s dive deep:

What are you most passionate about?

Speaking.

What is holding you back from living the life you want?

Nothing. I strive to do what I want. I believe strongly in living the life you dream of. I also believe you have to work for it.

What is your greatest fear?

Flying overseas.

What has been your greatest life lesson?

Becoming a mother.

What breaks your heart for others?

Children that are suffering; people that are struggling.

How do you break your own heart?

By letting the judgement of others get to me. If that overcomes the truth I know of myself, I have failed, I have broken my own heart. It is then time to re-center.

What part of your story do you keep leaving out?

The devastation of addiction.

What has held you back from sharing it before?

Fear of being judged.

Let’s Talk Motherhood:

What two words best describe you as a mother?Aware. Nurturing.

What do you love best about motherhood?All of it. I love the challenges and trials because they allow me to learn and grow and for my children to learn and grow. And, I love all the little sweet in betweens. I love helping my individual children grow into their own.
What do you find most challenging about motherhood?

Well, I have 6 children. I find the hardest part is to multitask them all at once. I am pretty darn good, but I have to stay very present and honor that they are each very different from each other so it requires me to mold myself quickly to what they each need.

As a mother, what is your greatest fear?

My children getting sick. Me failing to give them all the tools they need to navigate life.

What has been your greatest lesson from motherhood?

That each child is an individual. They are not an extension of me either. They are their own beautiful souls with their own amazing gifts, needs, desires, challenges and strengths. It has taught me a deeper level of understanding allpeople that I encounter.

What two words best describe your mother?

Strong and survivor.

Finish this sentence: What I remember most about my mother is…

How she fought for her life to be the best that she wanted it to be.
What story did you inherit from your mother?

I inherited a strong sense of faith, stubbornness and tenaciousness, how to compulsively clean in our home (well, as much as I can be with a herd of children right now), how to be a fighter, how to be a warrior.
What story do you hope to pass down to your children?

My voice, my strong will for them to speak their voice, that their mother overcame despite all odds as a child, a teen and a grown woman. I hope to pass down my legacy as an entrepreneur, a devoted mother and an advocate for helping others in need.

Thank you for the inspiration. xo, muse.

About Muse

Muse is a source of inspiration, a heartbeat, a movement, a call to action, a question, an answer, support, celebration, nourishment, a standing ovation, a sense of wonder, a platform, an invitation, a conversation, a voice…your voice, our collective voice.